Learn how to make your home smell better naturally and improve indoor air quality without the use of synthetic fragrances.
We all want our home to smell nice, but let’s be honest, sometimes your house just has the funk and needs a bit of freshening. I especially notice this after we’ve been held up inside the whole weekend or even returning home after being gone a while. Home is a bit stale and not how I want them. And while I love the beautiful aroma you can get from certain air fresheners and things, I prefer to clean with natural products (for the most part) and use natural ways to make my home smell better. Over the years, I’ve learned so many different ways to keep my home smelling fresh and I want to share them with you too!
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How to Make Your Home Smell Better Naturally
Ways to Freshen your Whole Home
1. Stay on Top of Chores
One of the first places to start when you’re trying to make your home smell better naturally is to simple clean up a bit. Now I know that seems obvious, but keeping up with the normal everyday chores that need to be done can really make a difference. These types of things would be taking the trash out regularly, cleaning dishes, doing the laundry, vacuuming, dusting, et cetera. Staying on top of these things will keep bad smells at bay and is a great first step in making your home smell divine. If this is something you struggle with, I totally get it. Getting into a routine can be hard, but it really pays off. There are many resources and cleaning schedules online for free that can help you too!
2. Let in Fresh Air to Combat Odors
Filling your home with clean air is a great way to remove musty odors and stale air. If you live in a place without a lot of pollution, opening your windows and doors, even when the temperatures are a little low, will help freshen up the entire house. When the weather is nice, I try to open up windows and doors for at least and hour, usually in the morning.
3. Purify Indoor Air with an Air Purifier
I recommend utilizing an air purifier(s) in your home because they work to remove dust, bacteria and allergens from the air. If you choose to invest in an air purifier, I recommend one with a HEPA filter, like the MSA3 HEPA Air Filter. This air purifier works great and I highly recommend it! I did a whole review on the MSA3 here if you want to check it out!
4. Add Indoor Plants to Improve Air Quality
If you don’t have the budget for an air purifier or enjoy greenery in your space, try adding some indoor plants to your space. Plants help to absorb toxins like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene and more, creating healthier air quality. Additionally, they convert the carbon dioxide we breathe out into fresh oxygen! Some of the best indoor plants include spider plants, English ivy, aloe vera and pathos. If you’re worried about keeping plants alive, try setting a reminder on your phone to water and care for them.
5. Diffuse Essential Oils
Conventional air fresheners use synthetic fragrances that can trigger asthma and create other issues. Instead, use essential oil diffusers to add beautiful scents to the main areas of your home. Essential oils have many great benefits and some even help to purify the air as well, not to mention, they make your house smell great! Try experimenting with different scents to make the perfect combination for you. If you don’t have a essential oil diffuser, you can also try reed diffusers to get a similar effect.
Kitchen
When it comes to the kitchen, there are two areas I notice need attention, the garbage and the garbage disposal. Using natural ingredients, you can really keep smells at bay and freshen up the kitchen.
1. Tackle the Garbage
One of the stinkiest places in the kitchen is the garbage, but there are ways to make it smell better. First, be sure to change it frequently, especially when you discard raw meat or old leftovers.
Add a paper towel at the bottom of the can and put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on top, then add the liner. I love using citrus oils, like lemon and orange, or even peppermint. If you’re not into essential oils, you could also add some baking soda to the bottom of the can to absorb odors.
2. Clean and Deodorize the Kitchen Sink
Clean your sink every time you empty it, simply with dish soap. You can also cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub your stainless steel sink and make it shine.
If you notice the garbage disposal getting a stinky odor, try adding ice cubes and even a little lemon juice and turn it on. This will break up any old food. You could also pour some baking soda down the drain and add a little vinegar to help clean and freshen up the disposal.
Use a little soap and an old toothbrush to scrub around the faucet to remove any gunk around the faucet.
3. Be Mindful of Grease and Grime
The stovetop, range vents and walls surrounding the stove can collect grease and grime. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe the walls and stove down after cooking anything greasy to remove the grease smell. I’ve also used my mop to clean the walls, especially the areas I can’t reach when I’m on a stool.
4. Make a Simmer Pot
Simmer pots add a pleasant aroma to your home and kitchen. To make one, place a pot of water on the stove, then add things like cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, flower petals, coffee beans, etc., and allow the pot to simmer all day. You can even do this on top of a wood stove in the winter!
5. Bake Cookies
If you need your home to smell better fast, bake some cookies. I love to have cookie dough in the freezer whenever we want it. Of course you don’t have to just stick with cookies, any baked good works!
Living Room
- Clean floors regularly to remove pet hair, dust and dander. If you have hardwood floors or laminate, try this homemade laminate floor cleaner. It not only sanitizes, but also leaves a streak-free clean.
- Vacuum carpet daily or weekly, depending on if you have animals and/or children, and use baking soda to deodorize and freshen them. I also recommend deep cleaning your carpets once a year (or more often if needed) either professionally or by renting a carpet cleaning machine for the day.
- Clean pet beds on a regular basis to keep pet dander and odors at bay.
- Vacuum couches and upholstered furniture regularly and clean spills quickly.
- If you have any blankets, it can be helpful to clean those regularly too, especially if they’re used often.
Bedrooms
- Change your bedsheets on a regular basis, preferably once a week, to keep them fresh and remove dirt and odors from sweat. Also, if you’re able to line dry your linens, I highly suggest it. It gives them a nice fresh smell.
- Spray your bed with a homemade linen spray to keep them fresh in between washes.
- Add dirty clothes to a hamper and work toward a weekly bedroom reset.
Bathroom
- Use a DIY room spray to mask unpleasant odors.
- Clean the bathroom weekly, which includes the toilet, shower and changing the garbage.
- Wash rugs weekly to combat that musty smell they acquire over time.
- Address any mold issues and use bleach if necessary. Although this isn’t totally natural, mold can cause damage to our bodies.
Small Spaces
- For small spaces like closets, try making a DIY natural air freshener or leaving a cup of baking soda in the corner. They will help absorb odors and freshen the air.
- Add a few drops of essential oil to a cotton ball and stash it in places like your toilet paper roll, at the bottom of the garbage, in the window sills, near shoes, et cetera to combat bad odors.
- If you have a space that tends to get damp, consider adding a de-humidifier or a moisture absorber.
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Looking for more natural living tips and tutorials? Check these out:
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